This map, along with its companion Abhorrent Bone, is Kona's first Q3A map according to the read-me file attached to the download. I'll be the first to admit that this map is not without its problems, but damn it there is such a unique 'voice' to it that I can't help but like it. The more I play it the more this feeling grows. It's fun, and in my book that's worth more than innovation and technique.

 

The map is like some sort of futuristic holding pen in a zoo on a distant planet. A central arena dominated by giant stone 'bullets' similar to Moorish minarets is surrounded by mossy stone and walls. A couple of outlying 'corridors' circle the perimeter and there is one second-level platform with stairs leading up to it. But, fully 90% of the action happens in and around the map's center.

 

Weapons and ammo are plentiful, with the 3 primary guns being the shotgun, the plasma gun and the rocket launcher. The rocket launcher spawns in the map center encouraging everyone to fight over it since it's probably the most useful weapon on a level of this size (small) and constrictiveness (you're almost guarenteed to frag someone just by randomly firing the rocket off in different directions.) Connectivity is decent but not great with some strange game flow occuring around the stairs. This isn't anything major but it can certainly be offputting. Generally, just stick to the first level and you can't go wrong. Bot utilize both levels but focus mostly on the central floor near the rocket launcher.

 

Textures are used very well in conjunction with the strange style of architecture Kona brings to the table. As I mentioned above, you feel like you're in some big predator's holding pen in a futuristic zoo. I kept expecting to see tigers lounging on the rocks. The lighting is probably the weak link in the map's theme, as is the smog-colored sky, but it isn't so bad that it detracts. Frame rates are high with virtually no lag or stutter, even with 7 bots and full gore on.

 

The map is fun to play despite the inappropriate lighting and slightly un-intuitive connectivity. Playing against 3 bots was fun and fast-paced. It became even wilder with 7 bots as you'd expect on such a small map. The longer you play the map the harder it becomes to dislike it entirely. It grows on you. (In all fairness, this was the first of the two maps built, and the second one, Abhorrent Bone, plays much better.)

 

I'm torn between giving the map a 2 and a 3 - I would prefer 2.5 but that's not an option. So, I'm going with 2 - the map is good, don't get me wrong, but its good in the amateurish way that Star Trek fan fiction can be good. Don't let the 'low score' dissuade you, however, from downloading this map because it's certainly worth it.

Score: 2/5